Signs You’re Taking Your Diet Too Far

Jun 13, 2017

by Allison Tschurjumov

Many of us try and use dieting to help lose weight or become healthier. However, it can be really easy to become obsessed with our weight, counting calories, and the numbers on the scale. These are some signs that you might be taking your diet a little too far.

All you do is weigh yourself on the scale.

All the scale does is tell you how much you weigh. In reality, weight fluctuates day by day, and that is completely normal. Many people become fixated on the number on the scale, and become angry and depressed when they don’t get the number they want to see. If your number on the scale is affecting your mood, or you’re weighing in more than once a day – you might be taking it a little too far.

You’re secretive about your diet.

If you’re finding yourself avoid the subject of your new diet or if you are afraid of being judged for being too strict on yourself, it may be that you need to ease up on your dieting rules. Be lenient with your diet; creating more of a balance will keep you happier and it’s better for your body.

Your diet affects your self-esteem.

If you only feel good about yourself when you keep to your restrictive diet, you might want to rethink it. Many people develop a pattern of beating themselves up when they eat “bad” foods and feeling happy when they’ve been eating “good” foods. This can stall your progress, and it affects your mental health and emotional stability as well.

All you think about is your weight and your diet.

If all you can think about is your diet, it will lead to burnout. This can cause a relapse back to old, unhealthy eating patterns. This also can distract you from other activities and work that you need full attention on. Your diet doesn’t have to consume your entire life, just focus on the basics like having a consistent eating schedule, and have balanced meals that have veggies, lean proteins, and healthy fats and carbs.

Your diet isolates you from your friends and family.

If your family and friends are going out to dinner, pick healthy options. Or if you’re going to dinner with a bunch of friends at someone’s house, bring a healthy option to share. Although a majority of the time social engagements involve food (usually unhealthy food), that doesn’t mean you have to skip out on plans. Try finding nonfood centered activities like going for a hike rather than meeting for drinks or ice cream.